CNPS Announces the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens Initiative

The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) announced the launch of the Biodiversity in Urban Gardens (BUG) initiative, a two-year effort that links community science, public policy, and civic action to foster biodiversity in urban landscapes. This initiative is funded in part by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

“By learning about the relationship between native plants and wildlife, we hope to unlock new insights on the crucial role native plants have in our ecosystems,” said Lila Higgins, director of Education and Horticulture at CNPS. “Urban ecosystems are often overlooked when it comes to biodiversity, yet they are rich in wildlife, as anyone who’s ever observed birds or butterflies in cities can attest. With 94% of Californians living in urban areas, we need to choose the plants that best support life there.” 

With the launch of BUG, CNPS is inviting members of the public to join BUG community science projects to document native plants and wildlife in the urban environment.  

A statewide community science project: BUG participants across California will document the native plants and native wildlife they see in native-plant dominant gardens through simple observations uploaded to iNaturalist. This project is open to anyone who is interested and has a smartphone or digital camera and can download the iNaturalist app. Instructions are provided, so prior knowledge of iNaturalist is not necessary. 
The Santa Clara Valley Paired Garden Study: Five paired study sites (10 gardens total) in Santa Clara County, will be managed in partnership with community-based organizations. Trained community scientists will be dedicated to these sites to document species richness and abundance. 
Participants will learn about biodiversity data collection and later how they can connect their observational experiences with civic engagement. In late 2026, the BUG project will focus on analyzing the data collected and connecting the dots between science and public policy. CNPS will offer participants training in advocacy and relevant public policy and introduce opportunities for civic action on behalf of urban biodiversity. The project also includes the development of an annotated bibliography of published research.